DOJ emissions cheating app investigation leads to record user data request
The U.S. Department of Justice has requested Apple and Google hand over data on over 100,000 users of the EZ Lynk app, which is under investigation for allegedly enabling emissions cheating in vehicles. The DOJ seeks names and addresses of app downloaders, potentially using them as witnesses, though the broad request raises Fourth Amendment concerns. Apple has historically resisted overly broad subpoenas and may reject the request unless it is narrowed.
- ▪The U.S. Department of Justice is investigating EZ Lynk for allegedly violating the Clean Air Act by facilitating emissions control bypasses in vehicles.
- ▪The DOJ has requested Apple and Google provide names and addresses of over 100,000 EZ Lynk app users, a data request ten times larger than a similar 2019 case.
- ▪EZ Lynk maintains that its app only interfaces with existing vehicle diagnostic systems and does not itself modify engine software to bypass emissions controls.
- ▪Apple typically resists broad government data requests and may reject this subpoena due to its scope and lack of specificity.
- ▪The Electronic Frontier Foundation has raised concerns about the potential for misuse of collected data and past government attempts to gain monitoring access.
- ▪Apple can provide unencrypted app purchase records but cannot access end-to-end encrypted user data such as Apple Health information.
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News DOJ emissions cheating app investigation leads to record user data request Wesley Hilliard 2 e-mail BlueSky Mastodon X Facebook Reddit Fri May 15 2026, 02:27 PM EDT · 2 minute read Apple now involved in a lawsuit involving vehicle modifications A record 100,000 EZ Lynk users could find their data being handed over to the United States government if Apple complies with a request for app download information. Governments subpoena Apple for information all of the time, but that doesn't mean it gets handed over automatically. Apple will push back if the scope of the request is too broad or vague. In the case of the EZ Lynk lawsuit, the US Department of Justice has asked Apple and Google to hand over information about over 100,000 users.
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